CUBA: Colombia's FARC rebels rule out a unilateral ceasefire during presidential elections but say they are open to a bilateral ceasefire

Record ID: 349829

  • Title: CUBA: Colombia's FARC rebels rule out a unilateral ceasefire during presidential elections but say they are open to a bilateral ceasefire
  • Date: 7th February 2014
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 07, 2014) (REUTERS) PEACE NEGOTIATION DELEGATION FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) ARRIVING JOURNALIST FARC REPRESENTATIVES AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PEACE NEGOTIATOR FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC), ANDRES PARIS, SAYING: "We are ready to discuss a bilateral ceasefire, as is reaffirmed in th
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Conflict,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8KRBV6D1JXCQHACDLN5GV6DU1
  • Story Text: The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Friday (February 7) said they would not call for a unilateral ceasefire during Colombia's presidential elections this spring.
    FARC peace negotiator Andres Paris, however, told journalists the insurgency is open to a bilateral ceasefire if certain terms were met.
    "We are ready to discuss a bilateral ceasefire, as is reaffirmed in the message to [Colombian] vice president Angelino Garzon; to subscribe to a humanitarian accord which starts with a bilateral ceasefire," Paris said.
    At the same time, Paris warned that recent reports of military intelligence spying on the peace talks could pose the biggest threat to the election.
    "The real threat to this electoral campaign is precisely the scandals we are pointing out [spying allegations] and of which you inquire about in this news conference," said Paris.
    Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has ordered an investigation into the spying accusations which were reported earlier this week by respected weekly news magazine, Semana.
    Santos has suggested that "dark forces" were trying to sabotage the ongoing peace talks and his bid to end five decades of war.
    But Paris signaled it was a sign of failed governmental institutions.
    "This episode should show Colombians what the institutions built under the doctrines of American and Israeli specialists do. It is a threat to all Colombians. It is interesting that the press presents it as an internal problem between different governmental institutions," Paris added.
    The government and the FARC have fought for five decades. More than 200,000 have been killed and millions have been displaced.
    The peace negotiations, being conducted in Cuba, have emerged as a campaign issue ahead of elections in May in which Santos is running for re-election.
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